📬 My Nanaimo This Week for August 22, 2022

August 22, 2022

This week...

Departure Bay Beach gets an accessbile mat, the VIEx is back and an election update. Read on for more!

A Look at 40 Years of LIT

Past and present participants of the City of Nanaimo's Leaders in Training (LIT) program gathered on Friday, August 19 to celebrate 40 years of this beneficial program. Watch the video above to see how important this program has been for youth in our community.

Beat the Heat

Last week, Environment Canada issued a heat warning for Nanaimo and temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday. We are expecting more hot weather this week, so please make sure you are prepared.

Stay hydrated. Make ice and prepare jugs of cool water
When outside, try to stay in the shade. Wear sunscreen and a hat.
Sleep in the coolest room of your house.
Take cool baths or showers.
Avoid strenuous activities.
Do not leave children or pets in the car.
Go for a swim in one of Nanaimo's many swimming spot. Lifeguards are on duty daily at Westwood Lake and there are four spray parks for kids to splash around in.
Stay connected with your friends and neighbours.

Be FireSmart

All that heat is raising the risk of wildfires. It only takes one spark to ignite a fire. Please do your part to prevent wildfires.

Clear debris and other combustible materials from around your home. Visit FireSmartBC.ca to find out how you can FireSmart your home and property.
No campfires - a campfire ban is in effect.
Do not throw smoking materials out the car window (even ashing out the window can create a spark that can start a wildfire).
Don't smoke on trails - smoking is not permitted in Nanaimo's parks or on Nanaimo's trails.
If you are out recreating in the back country with an ATV or dirt bike, stick to well-worn trails and carry fire suppression equipment with you.
Prepare a wildfire evacuation plan.
If you see a fire, call 911.

Bike Valet at VIEx

The VIEx is back! Get there without worrying about parking on Saturday, August 27. From 12-8 pm, a free bike valet service, provided by Capital Bikes, and free transit shuttles to the fair from VIU and Woodgrove Centre, provided by the RDN, will be available. Find more information on the bike valet and shuttle locations on the City website.

MORE INFO

Accessible beach mat at Departure Bay

Departure Bay Beach became more accessible this month with the installation of a Mobi Mat®. The mat is a seasonally installed, non slip walkway made from recycled material and offers those with wheels (wheelchairs, strollers, wagons, kayak trailers) an easier option to access the beach area.

The Mobi Mat® will be left at the beach for the remainder of the summer season. If found to be useful, the City may be purchase and install more at other parks in the future.

MORE INFO

Election Update

We are less than two months away from the 2022 General Local Election! Here's the latest info you need to know:

You can still register to get on the voters list. Visit elections.bc.ca by end of day Tuesday, August 23. If you miss this deadline, you can register in person when you go to vote.
Ages 16-17? You can sign up to be on the future voters list so that when you turn 18 you are automatically registered to vote. Visit the Future Voters section on elections.bc.ca.
Candidate information sessions take place online from 1-3 pm and 6-8 pm on August 23. Register for one of these sessions by emailing: elections@nanaimo.ca or calling 250-755-4405.
Nomination period begins on August 30 and will be open until 4 pm on September 9.

2022 ELECTION

Will Your Commute Be Affected This Week?

Up-to-date information on City construction projects:

The northbound right lane on Brechin Road will be closed starting at 9:00 pm on Wednesday August 24, 2022 while City water crews carry out a repair.
Metral Drive is still an active construction area. Traffic control will aim to keep traffic flowing; however, please display patience for the workers as they endeavor to do this work as quickly as they can.
Mobility upgrades are taking place at the intersection of Bruce Avenue and Sixth Street. Commuters should expect minor delays.
Park Avenue between Fifth Street and Seventh Street will be closed in both directions for a sanitary sewer upgrade. The road closure will be in place for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Access is available for local traffic and emergency vehicles only. A detour will be in place using Bruce Avenue and the closure will remain in effect until the sewer upgrade project is completed in September.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS